Odd Lots This Is Palantir's Vision for Changing How the US Does Defense Spending
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Feb 6, 2025 
Shyam Sankar, CTO of Palantir, dives into the complexities of U.S. defense spending and the transformative vision outlined in his document, "The Defense Reformation." He discusses the bureaucratic hurdles that hinder innovation and the need for a more competitive environment in defense procurement. Sankar emphasizes the crucial role of data integration and AI in enhancing decision-making for the Department of Defense. The conversation critiques the historical consolidation of the defense industrial base and advocates for decentralization and continuous innovation to boost national security.
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Painful Entry
- Palantir's initial adoption came from soldiers in the field, not top-down decisions.
- They faced resistance from established government programs, not existing defense contractors.
Internal Competition
- The current defense system lacks competition within the government itself.
- Past successes, like the Minuteman missile, resulted from inter-service competition.
Disaggregated Demand
- Demand and supply are disaggregated in defense; services supply, but combatant commanders have limited purchasing power.
- Empowering these 13 combatant commanders as buyers could create a more market-like environment.